Neurofibromatosis

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What is neurofibromatosis? Isn’t that what John Merrick, the “Elephant Man”, had?

Dr. Greene’s Answer:

Neurofibromatosis (a.k.a. von Recklinghausen’s disease) is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes benign tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time. At least eight varieties of NF exist and can range from very mild to quite severe, but fortunately none are as disfiguring as the tragic case of the Elephant Man (who we now know did not have NF).

Café-au-lait spots are a classic feature of this disease. These flat birthmarks with distinct edges are a bit darker than the surrounding skin. In light-skinned individuals, they are the color of coffee with lots of cream. In those with darker skin, they can be the color of a rich, full-bodied, black coffee. The spots can increase in size, number, and darkness throughout childhood.

Having one to three café-au-lait spots is quite common, present in as many as one in five healthy children. Each spot of significant size after the first three, though, is increasingly uncommon and increasingly likely to be associated with NF or with one of the other neurocutaneous syndromes.

Any child with six or more café-au-lait spots that are more than 5 mm in diameter should be monitored and treated as having NF. This means a baseline examination by an ophthalmologist and audiologist (including vision and hearing tests). It also means a baseline EEG and head CT or MRI, as well as a skeletal survey radiograph and a visit with a geneticist.

Children with NF may also have other findings, including freckling in the armpit and groin areas, nodules seen on eye exam, and certain bone findings seen on xrays.

Each parent should have these same tests performed on him or her. NF is often so mild that a parent isn’t diagnosed until café-au-lait spots are found on his or her child. Often, a child’s course of disease follows that of his or her parents. Approximately 50% of cases are inherited; the other half are due to spontaneous mutations.

Those with a presumptive diagnosis of NF need annual vision and hearing testing, as well as an annual neurologic exam (in addition to a regular physical). They also benefit from preventive support of several kinds.

Dr. Greene is the founder of DrGreene.com (cited by the AMA as “the pioneer physician Web site”), a practicing pediatrician, father of four, & author of Raising Baby Green & Feeding Baby Green. He appears frequently in the media including such venues as the The New York Times, the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, & the Dr. Oz Show.

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